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The Joburg Fresh Produce Market has embarked on a drive to ensure as many residents as possible get the buyer’s card to enjoy discounts from wholesale prices.
Currently, only 24 000 residents use the Joburg Market’s buyers’ card, which allows them to buy fresh produce from three trading hubs – the vegetables, the fruit and the potato and onion hubs. The Joburg Market opens every weekday and Saturdays in City Deep from 5 am.
You cannot buy in the trading hubs if you do not have the buyer’s card. You do not have to buy in bulk. Interested residents can apply at the Market’s customer service kiosk for the card. The card enables buyers to purchase produce from agents from one central system.
“The card is currently available at the Joburg Market for free, however, there is a R50 charge for a lost card,” says Toni Wessie, the Joburg Market’s Customer Relations Manager.
Wessie says the Market introduced buyer’s cards as a security measure to allow for non-cash handling on trading floors. “This ensures a secure trading environment for everyone. It’s one card per customer,” she explains.
A chipped smart card was first introduced in the year 2000 and a contactless card with enhanced security features was launched in 2005.
The Joburg Market, measuring a total of 65 000m2, serves about 5 000 farmers from across South Africa who send their fresh produce to be traded to a larger buyer base, averaging about 10 000 daily.
Trade takes place via a commission system with the Joburg Market charging the producer 5% commission on all sales made on the trading floor. A further negotiable levy of 7.5% is paid to Market Agents for selling produce on behalf of the farmer.
The Joburg Market has 55 cold rooms which can accommodate 4 561 pallets of fresh produce and 50 banana ripening rooms which can handle 1 590 pallets of bananas at any one time. The Joburg Market can be reached on 011 992 8000.
